Garmin-Asus has launched its second smartphone to consumers in Taiwan, solidifying a joint effort between the two companies to enter an increasingly crowded mobile phone market.
The Garmin-Asus Nuvifone M20, sporting a 2.8-inch touchscreen running Microsoft Windows 6.1 Professional, also has a 3.0-megapixel camera, Microsoft Office software suite, 2G and 3G support, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 2.0.
The Nuvifone M20 has been designed for business users, and retails for $544, but should be sold for a lower price depending on the contract agreement with Chunghwa, Taiwan's largest mobile phone provider.
Last month, Garmin-Asus launched its Nuvifone G60 smartphone also in Taiwan, and both are focused on using Garmin's knowledge of the GPS, with Garmin maps and software integrated into both phones.
Along with being able to avoid traffic, find close-by stores and entertainment, and similar functions, both Nuvifones also have the ability to geotag photos. Each time either phone captures an image, they automatically tag the image with data, time and the location of where the image was taken.
Asus has made popular phones in China and across Asia, but have struggled to gain footholds in North America and Europe. It'll be interesting to see if Garmin-Asus are interested in one day bringing the phones to the United States, as the U.S. market has numerous smartphones from the likes of Apple, Research In Motion, Nokia, HTC, and others.
There are unconfirmed rumors the Nuvifone M20 will become part of the AT&T wireless family, but Asus, Garmin, and AT&T haven't issued any public statements.
